More Pepsi-iTunes Opportunities... and McDonalds?

[stoid]

For those who are adamantly objecting to Apple hitching up with companies that sell 'unhealthy' products:

Who would you suggest that Apple shacks up with to give away music? I'll probably be eating these words later, but I can't think of a single company that could give out a massive number of songs with the hip appeal and therefore success of Pepsi or McDonald's. I don't see a Bally's Total Fitness, Granola Bar, or HealthyChoice iTunes song giveaway been anything but a ridiculous and utter failure as a business partnership.

Apple isn't necessarily partnering with Pepsi and McDonald's because it supports their products, but rather because that just makes business sense.

 

[Rex44]

Originally posted by uv23
Disclaimer: I'm aware that the following comes off as self-righteous, and business is business, but it comes from the heart so save your flames.

Pepsi? McDonalds? Big Gulps? What's next, tobbaco companies? Apple is centering themselves directly in the heart of fat America. Very sad to see.

I too am aware of the realities of the Western world, and I hope these initiatives are hugely successful for Apple, but I feel very much the same way. And I can't help but think Jobs himself is internally conflicted on this as well.

Although I don't think there's ever been anything like it before, I sometimes wonder if a major campaign that would actually have been in the interest of public health could have been attempted, rather than the opposite. Say, an arrangement with the the citrus grower associations that would see grocery store cashiers give out iTunes contest tokens to people for every four grapefruits bought. Or a similar thing with whole grain loaves of bread. And so on and so forth. These too are mass market items (though I'm sure with nowhere near the same margins), and there could potentially be positive PR spinoff.

Ok, maybe I'm in dreamland, but if anyone could come up with a better way, I'd think it would be Apple.

 

[uv23]

Originally posted by TEG
2) Just so people know, SODA IS NOT BAD FOR YOU!!! As long as you still work out, eat well, and drink water soda, in any quanity, will not harm you at all.

100% incorrect. Pop is empty calories, and a whole lot of 'em. Over consumption of sugar is probably doing even more damage to the public than overconsumption of fatty fast food.

 

[fixyourthinking]

Guns don't kill people ...

Originally posted by uv23
Disclaimer: I'm aware that the following comes off as self-righteous, and business is business, but it comes from the heart so save your flames.

Pepsi? McDonalds? Big Gulps? What's next, tobbaco companies? Apple is centering themselves directly in the heart of fat America. Very sad to see.

The earlier comment about convincing people to switch to pepsi from bottled water is especially disturbing.

Food doesn't make people fat - people make THEMSELVES fat just as ... guns don't kill people ... people kill people. I hate when people give inanimate objects powers of persuasion and abilities to destroy lives. They are inanimate. Period.

To add to the story - a local company (about 30 miles away) produces the little Monopoly stickers for the Monopoly game that McDonald's has each year (usually in the fall) - I was told the promotion this year was made to give away iTunes songs rather than Best buy gift certificates like last year. Maybe this is the promotion, but it could be separate.

(I do technical work for this company's design team)

 

[polyesterlester]

I found these cups at my local 7-Eleven. Bought two cups of Coca-Cola and double-cupped them (to keep my hands from getting cold, of course!). Two out of my four cups were winners 🙂

 

[Foxer]

I bought a single bottle (98 cents) from one of the check-out coolers at my local Wal-Mart on Saturday. A winner! I made 1 cent in the transaction. Man, Pepsi is awful! Wish it were Coke products. Or that there were 7-11's in this state.

So, if you can get bottles in Racine, WI the day before the contest starts, you will surely be able to get them everywhere.

 

[uv23]

Re: Guns don't kill people ...

Originally posted by adzoox
Food doesn't make people fat - people make THEMSELVES fat just as ... guns don't kill people ... people kill people. I hate when people give inanimate objects powers of persuasion and abilities to destroy lives. They are inanimate. Period.

I agree to an extent - anyone who sues McDonalds for "making them fat" is an idiot. However, you underestimate the power of advertising, especially with today's youth.

 

[Foxer]

Re: Guns don't kill people ...

Originally posted by adzoox
Food doesn't make people fat - people make THEMSELVES fat just as ... guns don't kill people ... people kill people. I hate when people give inanimate objects powers of persuasion and abilities to destroy lives. They are inanimate. Period.

You forgot those diabolical SUV's that are plotting to kill us all.

 

[WishIWasntHere]

How about starting an ipoditunesrumors.com and keep the focus of macrumors.com on the *Macintosh*? It seems the majority of postings lately are all about iPods and iTunes related subjects. That's not why I visit this web site and it's information I don't care about.

But, then again, that's just me.

 

[Hoky]

Hmmm...

I have been trying to put my finger on the pulse of this thread, and I think I detect an underlying sentiment. At the very least, I will try to express it best I can.

It seems to me that we - the hardcore Mac community - are very nervous about this current promotion in the way that we worry about our favourite, cutting edge band going "mainstream."

Another term for this is "selling out."

I get the feeling that the Macfanatics (of which I am one) posting to this forum are worried about the "selling out" of Apple. It's a slippery slope, right? And the fact that the products Apple is co-promoting are bad for you (the dogs know that soft drinks and McDonalds "food" is horrible...in fact it is not even food at all. It is edible, yes, but certainly not food) means that we cannot be as proud and smug about out beloved computers.

I say do not fear. The Mac is not going to be dumbed down to a Piece of Crap so that it can be force-fed to Joe America (do you want fries with that extra RAM?). The music thing is a wholly different entity within Apple. They are going to milk this puppy for all it is worth. I think it is marketing genius. The more profitable Apple becomes, the more money they can sink into R&D and the more cool technology we will see as a result.

I just hope that focusing on the iTMS/Pepsi promo is not interfering with the G5 speed bumps (where the hell are they!!!!!).

What do you guys/gals think? Are we worried about losing our well-deserved snobbery?

Because if we truly were snobs, we wouldn't mind if someone called us that.

I am a Mac snob and proud of it. I don't drink Pepsi. I drink tap water because it makes me stronger.

'Nuff said.

 

[singletrack]

In the recent Apple store redesigns did they widen the aisles?

That could be a good indication of future promotions. If they start narrowing them again, then we know the next promo is free iTunes songs with celery.

Fat people look terrible in turtlenecks though. It'll ruin the look of the store.

 

[FlamDrag]

Originally posted by stoid
For those who are adamantly objecting to Apple hitching up with companies that sell 'unhealthy' products:

Who would you suggest that Apple shacks up with to give away music? I'll probably be eating these words later, but I can't think of a single company that could give out a massive number of songs with the hip appeal and therefore success of Pepsi or McDonald's. I don't see a Bally's Total Fitness, Granola Bar, or HealthyChoice iTunes song giveaway been anything but a ridiculous and utter failure as a business partnership.

Apple isn't necessarily partnering with Pepsi and McDonald's because it supports their products, but rather because that just makes business sense.

This is going to sound more "soapboxy" than I really want, but all the same...

I am a consumer and that gives me every right - hell an obligation if you ask me - to object when companies behave in a manner with which I do not agree. Stockholders have even MORE right.

Granted, we're not talking about corporate corruption or accounting fraud etc. I furthermore agree with your statement about Granola Bar promotions probably being FAR less successful than a Pepsi or McDonalds promotion; And I'm not in denial; I realize it's all about money and profit.

At the same time, I'd like to see companies take a stand for the greater good and overall health of a nation - hell, even just the youth.

Finally, of course one can eat fast food and soda as part of a balanced diet - but the problem is that so few people, especially youth, do this. So many go to fast food joints and "supersize" an already calorie-laden meal into a range enough to last several days. On top of that, many eat these meals nearly every day - if not multiple times a day. It's a major problem in America; I doubt that you can find evidence to contradict that. In effect, Apple is endorsing these unhealthy habits, and I don't like it.

The eating habits of America need a change at the cultural level and this is simply a step in the wrong direction.

 

[jholzner]

Originally posted by WishIWasntHere
How about starting an ipoditunesrumors.com and keep the focus of macrumors.com on the *Macintosh*? It seems the majority of postings lately are all about iPods and iTunes related subjects. That's not why I visit this web site and it's information I don't care about.

But, then again, that's just me.

I see your point but as of late the rumors have all been surrounding music. It's Apple's new #1 priority. If it was just limited to Macs the site would be dry.

 

[arn]

Originally posted by WishIWasntHere
How about starting an ipoditunesrumors.com and keep the focus of macrumors.com on the *Macintosh*? It seems the majority of postings lately are all about iPods and iTunes related subjects. That's not why I visit this web site and it's information I don't care about.

iPod/iTunes news & rumors don't limit or otherwise hinder the number of Macintosh news & rumors posted.

In other words, if iTunes/iPod items were no longer posted, you would see no increase in the number of Macintosh-related stories.

arn

 

[pdrayton]

The promotion is targeted at people who are drinking carbonated soft drinks not made by Pepsi. So, encouraging people to switch from one soft drink brand to another is not going to inflict any additional harm.

Besides, can drinking soft drinks be any less healthy than spending all day in front of a computer (which Steve Jobs bragged that GarageBand would do for teens in his MacWorld address)?

Steve Jobs seems to be making some very bold and strategic moves in helping grow business for Apple. Apple doesn't need a small promotion to reward current customers... it needs to reach out to new customers by enticing them with something that is relevant in their lives.

I gather any complaints about Apple promoting an unhealthy lifestyle are merely sour grapes that Apple isn't rewarding them for buying products they already buy.

Has anyone noticed that one doesn't have to buy a Pepsi to win a free download? One can send in a self-addressed stamped envelope for considerably less than the cost of a Pepsi. Nonetheless, dietary police will still complain.

 

[fixyourthinking]

Thanks for the idea

Originally posted by polyesterlester
I found these cups at my local 7-Eleven. Bought two cups of Coca-Cola and double-cupped them (to keep my hands from getting cold, of course!). Two out of my four cups were winners 🙂

I went and did this with coffee/mocha just a few minutes ago.

By the way - double cupping is legal.

 

[Count Blah]

Time for all the self righteous "I would never drink that sugar water" and "I would never eat that chemically altered faux meat at McDonalds" posts.

Face it people, this promotion is not for you, it's for the rest of the people - 99.9999% of the population.

Sorry, just had to vent. Since I see this 'holier than thou' crap all the time in all Mac forums.

 

[thejoshu]

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but they don't check up on your cup-taking habits at 7-11, do they? You can just go there, grab a few cups and leave, without ever filling anything with a Slurpee... right?

 

[cubist]

Originally posted by gemio17
People who have iPods or that use iTMS don't drink piss-water Heineken, makes me gag just thinking about it. Give me a Bud bottle anyday of the week and twice on sunday over that crap- that said, ...

Buttwiper? Phooey! Apple should team up with Pilsner Urquell or Bass!

 

[mrsebastian]

i respect that we all have opinions, but what is all the fuss about? this has nothing to do with anything, but demographics. who is apple targeting? teens and young adults. what are they most likely to buy for themselves without their parents involved? fast food and soda of course.

this about bringing apple into the mainstream and gaining market share. as a stock holder i couldn't be happier with apple, because they actually have an opportunity to start rivaling our mortal enemy m$.

 

[AirUncleP]

Trash digging, Music Lovers Unite!

 

[impierced]

Originally posted by arn
iPod/iTunes news & rumors don't limit or otherwise hinder the number of Macintosh news & rumors posted.

In other words, if iTunes/iPod items were no longer posted, you would see no increase in the number of Macintosh-related stories.

arn

I believe he was just expressing his frustration with the fact that the rumor mill has somewhat dried up for Mac news.

I have cash in hand for new hardware and have been disappointed as of late and look to Mac Rumors to keep me going with the real soon now...

 

[the_dalex]

When did Apple become responsible for what we eat or drink?

Last I checked, I'm the only person who decides what goes down my gullet. I'm sick of people signing away their responsibility and freedoms in order to blame companies for personal health issues. Grow a backbone, and make sure your children do the same. Do the world a favor.

 

[mclosers]

It's a Pepsi Promotion

Do people still not realize that this is a Pepsi promotion NOT an Apple one. Get mad at pepsi for advertising for their products not Apple for doing nothing. Apple is not making america fat, Pepsi is. It's not like apple is giving them the songs for free or paying to advertise this promotion... Stop being hyper critical when you are being stupid at the same time.... Now go on a jog with your iPod mini (see apple promoting healthy behavior)

P.S. if you tip 20 OZ pepsi products at the right angle you can see if it's a winner or not before opening it..
P.P.S. don't do this in Blacksburg, VA.. I don't want you stealing all my free music..


P.P.P.S. Rumor has it that the G5s from the super computers are going back to Apple and VT is paying the difference in the price between the G5s and the Xserves.... More detail.. Apple's truck picked up the computers today/this weekend ( after it finnishes the operation it is currently working on) and the same truck after it drops the computers off at Apple's warehouse will return with Xserves.. No word on the speed of these yet. Thank me for the info later 😉

 

[Mord]

mc donalds sickens me my opinion of apple will plumit if this is true